Demoness 2 - Chapter 91 - Traversal (Patreon)

Elania stood at the top of the stairs of the Magistry tower, surveying the plaza below. Behind her, the massive doors had been pulled open as wide as possible. Everyone had been evacuated out into the open.

They stared at her with a visceral mix of fear and hope.

Yolani stood beside her, a comforting hand squeezing her shoulder.

Eziel floated nearby, his sword glinting in the flickering city lights.

[It is time.]

“It’s time,” Elania agreed. “How do I make this work?”

[You must visualize a portal that will lead to safety. Focus your mind and will it into existence.]

Elania turned to face the gate, closing her eyes. She tried to picture a portal, a swirling vortex of energy that would take them all to safety.

Nothing happened. She furrowed her brow and glanced at Yolani.

There wasn’t any fear in the other girl’s gaze. Just love and trust.

Elania tightened her hands into fists and tried again. Taking a deep breath, she focused all her energy on visualizing the portal. She imagined it in vivid detail—deep blue, shimmering edges, a rush of fresh air.

Her and Yolani, on the other side, together.

A click echoed out into the city, like a rusty key had been forced to turn in an old lock.

[You have done it.]

Elania opened her eyes. The portal was there, just as she had pictured. A cool breeze flowed through the deep shimmering blues, caressing her face.

Elania and Yolani turned to face the gathered crowd.

“Everyone must go through,” Yolani announced, her voice carrying out over the crowd.

[Elania must be the last to traverse.]

Elania stood beside the shimmering portal, her hand entwined with Yolani’s as they watched the survivors stream through.

Groups of the Guard and Ironfist mercenaries went first, their weapons at the ready, prepared to secure the other side. Then the civilians poured through, their faces etched with a mix of fear and relief.

Darius, the leader of the Black Candle cult, approached Elania, his eyes shining with reverence. “Dark Queen, is there anything your devout followers can do for you before we depart?” he asked, bowing his head.

Elania felt a flicker of agitation at his words. She wasn’t comfortable with people worshiping her, viewing her as some sort of divine figure. “No, Darius,” she said, her voice firm. “Just go on through with the rest of your people.”

Darius nodded, a flicker of disappointment crossing his features before he turned and joined the throng of civilians passing through the portal.

Yolani squeezed Elania’s hand, drawing her attention. “You did amazing,” she said, her voice soft and sincere. “You saved so many lives today.”

Elania sighed, the weight of the city’s destruction heavy on her shoulders.

Despite the thousands of survivors streaming to safety, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had failed.

The threads of gold still reached out into the ruins of Neftasu, a reminder of the lives she couldn’t save.

Elania watched as the last of the guard detachments filed through the shimmering portal.

Gaston and Henri paused before entering, turning to face her and Yolani. “Stay safe, both of you,” Gaston said, his gruff voice tinged with genuine concern.

Henri nodded, his eyes meeting Yolani’s. “Stay safe,” he said.

Yolani returned the smile, her hand still clasped tightly in Elania’s. “We’ll be through soon,” she replied, her voice steady despite the emotion welling up inside her.

With a final nod, Gaston and Henri stepped through the portal, disappearing into the swirling blue vortex.

Elania and Yolani were left alone in the empty courtyard, the silence broken only by the faint hum of the portal.

Elania closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses to the threads of life still scattered throughout the ruins of Neftasu.

She could feel them, faint but persistent, clinging to the edges of her consciousness. The weight of their suffering pressed down on her, a heavy burden she couldn’t shake.

She’d been so ready to abandon them all, just so she could be happy with Yolani. Guilt burned at her like a damning torch.

Yolani wrapped her arms around Elania, pulling her close. “You’ve done everything you can,” she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. “You can’t save everyone.”

“What… what if I can?” Elania whispered.

Yolani pulled back and stared into her eyes, blinking. “Well, that’d be great, too. Can you?”

Elania let out a terrified laugh. “I don’t know.”

Yolani squeezed her hand. “I love you either way.”

Elania turned to look out at the city, then closed her eyes. She focused her mind on the threads, picturing them being drawn toward the portal, towards safety. She could feel the what Eziel had meant about remnants.

Shards of the Celestial Engine’s power flowed around the Magistry tower like a vortex, divine echoes of all the energy, souls, and people who had lived within its confines coming undone to disperse into the world, no longer held in its unrelenting orbit.

[What you are attempting is too dangerous. You are not ready.]

Elania opened her eyes and stared at the sword. “When has that ever stopped me?”

Yolani’s arms tightened around her, and she leaned into the embrace, drawing strength from her partner’s presence.

“Do what you feel is right,” Yolani whispered, her breath warm against Elania’s ear. “I’m here with you, no matter what.”

Elania focused all her strength on the golden threads, pulling them towards the portal with every ounce of her being.

Something inside her mind suddenly gave way, like a pipe bursting open under immense pressure. A torrent of energy surged through her, raging and uncontrollable.

The rush was going to drag her away.

The sensation of a hand pressing in the small of her back, holding her steady, was unmistakably Eziel.

She might have panicked, but Yolani was in her arms, holding onto her tightly as they spun through the mist. They clung to each other, anchoring themselves amidst the chaos.

Elania instinctively folded her wings around them. The vertigo intensified, the world spinning in dizzying spirals of light and shadow.

Yolani retched, her stomach rebelling against the motion, but the vomit dissolved into motes of golden light, dissipating into the swirling mist.

Through it all, Elania never let go.

Safety… safety… safety!

Elania’s wings flared out, catching the air and halting their tumble. The maelstrom abated, and they were in a gold chamber.

She held Yolani close as they slowly descended towards the polished marble floor. The chamber was in chaos, with shouts and the clashing of weapons echoing off the walls.

As Elania’s feet touched the ground, her gaze was drawn to a circle of Mushroohums, their spears pointed outwards in a defensive formation.

They were surrounded by Ironfist mercenaries and City Watch guards, who seemed confused and agitated by the spores the Mushroohums were emitting.

The air was thick with tension, and the ‘glua-glaa’ sounds from the Mushroohums only added to the sense of impending violence.

Elania took a deep breath, gathering her strength.

“Truce!” she shouted, her voice imbued with divine authority.

The command echoed through the massive chamber, causing the fighting to falter as everyone turned to look at her.

The silence highlighted the humming sound that permeated the room.

Her eyes widened as she realized they were in the presence of another Celestial Engine, its energy pulsing at the center of the chamber. The revelation sent a shiver down her spine, and she tightened her grip on Yolani’s hand.

[Now is not the time for conflict.]

Smartass. That much was obvious.

They needed to figure things out, and fast.